US finishes Switzerland in Davis Cup

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The United States swept favored Switzerland out of the Davis Cup yesterday in Fribourg, Switzerland, when Mardy Fish and Mike Bryan beat Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3. Teaming for the second time, Fish and Bryan comfortably handled the 2008 Olympic doubles champions in front of an occasionally hostile Swiss crowd of 7,000. The doubles victory gave the Americans a 3-0 lead in the best-of-five, first-round series. They advanced to the quarterfinals in April when they again will be on the road - against France or Canada. Fish and Bryan picked up the momentum from Friday’s thrilling singles matches when John Isner stunned Federer in four sets and Fish outlasted Wawrinka in five. In the other first-round series in the World Group, three nations completed 3-0 sweeps: Czech Republic (vs. Italy), Spain (vs. Kazakhstan), and Argentina (vs. Germany). Ahead, 2-1, are Japan (vs. Croatia), Serbia (vs. Sweden), Austria (vs. Russia), and France (vs. Canada) . . . Marion Bartoli and Angelique Kerber won semifinal matches in Paris and will play for the title at the Open GDF Suez. Bartoli beat Klara Zakopalova, 7-6 (7-3), 6-0, while Kerber beat Yanina Wickmayer, 6-7 (2-7), 6-3, 6-4 . . . Maria Kirilenko beat Sorona Cirstea, 6-2, 5-7, 6-4, to reach the Pattaya (Thailand) Open final against Daniela Hantuchova, who beat Hsieh Su-wei, 6-4, 6-1.

Soccer

Morgan’s late goals carry US women

Alex Morgan tied it in the 88th minute and added the winner just before the final whistle in stoppage time to give the US women’s team a dramatic 2-1 victory over New Zealand in an exhibition game in Frisco, Texas. In stoppage time, with the temperature around freezing, Rachel Buehler delivered a cross from the left wing into the middle, where Abby Wambach headed it high in the air. Morgan got under it and headed it in off the right post . . . American striker Charlie Davies made his return for Sochaux in a 1-0 loss at Rennes in the French League. The former Boston College star had not played for Sochaux since Oct. 3, 2009. Ten days later, he was a passenger in a car accident in which another passenger died. Davies was left with two broken bones in his right leg, a broken and dislocated left elbow, a broken nose, forehead, and eye socket, a ruptured bladder, and bleeding on the brain. Davies was loaned to D.C. United of MLS last year.

Cavaliers center Anderson Varejao is out indefinitely with a fractured right wrist, suffered Friday in a 113-112 overtime loss to Milwaukee. An MRI revealed he has a non-displaced fracture. Varejao is averaging 10.8 points and 11.5 rebounds . . . The University of Alabama indefinitely suspended forward and leading scorer JaMychal Green, along with guards Trevor Releford and Andrew Steele, for violations of team rules.

Miscellany

Ward tells Steelers he’d redo contract

Steelers receiver Hines Ward said he wants to finish his career in Pittsburgh, offering to restructure his contract to do it. Ward posted on his Facebook page that he already has told the Steelers he’s willing to alter his deal so he can remain with the team. Ward’s comments came after NFL.com reported the Steelers were planning to cut the franchise’s all-time leading receiver. Ward, 35, is scheduled to make $4 million in 2012 . . . Tianna Madison won the women’s 60-meter final in the USA Track & Field Classic in Fayetteville, Ark., with a world-best time of 7.02 seconds, beating Olympic medalists Veronica Campbell-Brown and Allyson Felix . . . Bernard Lagat regained his American record in the indoor 5,000 meters at the Millrose Games in New York, winning in 13 minutes, 7.15 seconds . . . A person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press the Rangers and catcher Mike Napoli have agreed on a one-year contract worth $9.4 million that avoids a salary arbitration hearing . . . Jill Kinmont Boothe, 75, the skiing champion who became a painter and a teacher after she was paralyzed during a race, died at a hospital in Carson City, Nev. Her life was the subject of a 1966 book and two films. (Obituary, B9) . . . NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne is expected to be ready for the Daytona 500 Feb. 26 following Friday’s surgery in Charlotte, N.C., for torn cartilage in his left knee . . . Hymn Book won the $500,000 Grade 1 Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale, Fla., holding off a field that also included Preakness winner Shackleford and Belmont champion Rule On Ice. Also at Gulfstream, Todd Pletcher saddled his 3,000th career winner when Spring Hill Farm won the third race. The five-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer saddled his first winner, Majestic Number, at the same track in January 1996. He reached No. 3,001 when a horse with the same name won the fourth race.

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